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The top 12 textile and leather jackets for 2017

MCN Shop

From cutting-edge technology to the season’s best bargains, here are 12 of this year's stand-out textile and leather biker jackets.

BMW Motorrad Street Air by Alpinestars £1600

This new airbag jacket represents the first tie-up between BMW and Alpinestars. The Street Air adopts airbag technology from Alpinestars’ Tech-Air system, which uses body-mounted sensors to detect a crash scenario and inflate the airbag in time to help protect the rider’s back, kidneys, chest and shoulders. The airbag sits inside a textile jacket that has a breathable waterproof membrane to keep the weather at bay.

The outer is made from 500-denier Cordura, and the jacket is equipped with CE-approved elbow and shoulder armour. There’s also the option to add a back protector to beef up the protection from the airbag. Available in grey or black in chest sizes 36in-50in for men, and sizes 6-20 for women; the outer jacket and airbag vest will be available separately, but the £1600 price covers both. www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk

Weise Corsa £99.99

Amazing-value sports-style textile jacket promises durability and waterproofing, all for less than £100. The outer is made from Ripstop fabric, which is reinforced by a fixed waterproof/ breathable lining beneath. There’s also CE-approved armour at the shoulders, elbows and back, a decent venting system to keep you cool on warm days, and a two-year, no-quibble guarantee. Available in S-2XL in black, black/blue, black/red and black/neon. www.thekeycollection.co.uk

Richa Cyclone jacket £399

This new all-season jacket is the first from Belgium manufacturer Richa to feature a Gore-Tex membrane. The Cyclone has a three-layer system of a fixed Gore-Tex liner underneath a tough abrasion-resistant outer material and removable thermal lining. There’s D3O armour at the shoulders and elbows, and a Level 1 CE-certified back protector, too. It comes in three colour options – black, grey and black/fluro – and has a 360° zip to attach to the matching trousers (£299). www.nevis.uk.com

Buse ADV Pro STX £359

Packed with quality materials and features, Buse’s range-topper has a heavy- duty Tactel outer with extra elbow and shoulder reinforcement, Sympatex waterproof/windproof/breathable lining and zip-in/out softshell inner. There’s also zippable chest, arm and rear ventilation, and a fixed mesh lining. As well as CE-approved shoulder and elbow armour, the ADV also has seven waterproof pockets. Matching trousers cost £244.99. Available up to 5XL. www.sportsbikeshop.com

Dainese Misano D-air jacket £1499.95

Innovative Italian brand Dainese have evolved their sports-road leather airbag jacket for 2017. The airbag inside the new Misano D-air now wraps around the chest, flanks and back, while also protecting the full length of each shoulder and the neck. Dainese have also improved the electronics platform, which is independent of the bike and uses six sensors and an ECU to monitor a rider’s movements 1000 times per second in order to detect a crash. Plus, the rider can now check on system status via a new forearm-mounted LED. Improved battery performance is claimed to give up to 24 hours of use between charges. www.dainese.com

Alpinestars Stella Jaws ladies leather jacket £399.99

The new Jaws gets styling tweaks to help keep it looking its snappy best. Made from 1.2mm premium cowhide with perforated panels, it’s ideal for teaming up with protective jeans for hot summer riding. It has CE elbow and shoulder armour, and is ready to take an extra chest and back protector. Available in black, black/white and black/white/ fuchsia, in sizes 38-50. www.alpinestars.com

Spada Kingsman £349

Ideal for those who ride a classic, modern retro or cafe racer, the Spada Kingsman brings tweed to two wheels. Made from a water-repellant herringbone outer with Aramid- reinforced corduroy patches at the shoulders and elbows, the Kingsman also has the benefit of a fixed waterproof/breathable lining, removable thermal lining, and a full complement of elbow, shoulder and back CE armour. www.spadaclothing.co.uk

Buse Lago Pro textile jacket £128

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Mid-length commuting jacket could well be the textile-kit bargain of the year. With its 500 Denier polyamide outer featuring reinforced shoulder and elbow areas, the Lago should be hard wearing enough for the daily grind. It also has a fixed waterproof and windproof membrane to keep out rain and chills, as well as a mesh lining and full vent system for warm days. There’s CE armour at the shoulders and elbows, a connecting zip, adjustable collar, cuffs, arms and waist for comfort, and 3M Scotchlite strips to boost visibility. Available in light grey/black, black, black/fluro yellow, black/red and black/white, in sizes XS-3XL. www.sportsbikeshop.com

Furygan Titan Evo jacket £289.99

This the French company’s latest top- of-the-range textile jacket, and it’s been designed for stylish city commuters. A tough, breathable, dirt-resistant polyamide outer joins a waterproof polymesh membrane, removable thermal lining and soft D30 shoulder and elbow armour, with a pocket to slip in an extra- cost (at £35.99) D30 back protector. For warmer rides, the Evo features Furygan’s Air Flow System with waterproof zip-closure vents on the chest and back. The jacket is adjustable at the wrists, neck, waist and arms, and is available in sizes S-4XL. www.nevis.uk.com

Biker jackets for under £300

Buse Milestone 84 leather jacket £259.99

Retro-styled jacket has a high- grade cowhide leather outer and CE-approved soft armour at the shoulders. There are four zipped external pockets and two internal pockets, plus a large front closure, all with quality zips. Sizes 38-52. www.sportsbikeshop.com